After being soundly overwhelmed by Purple Bull on the two occasions in Austria, Mercedes seemed to chop the tempo deficit to its title rival by introducing its ultimate updates for the W12 automotive on the British Grand Prix.
The weekend noticed Lewis Hamilton high qualifying earlier than profitable the race on Sunday, recovering from a 10-second time penalty for his collision with Max Verstappen, whereas team-mate Valtteri Bottas additionally completed on the rostrum in third place.
Purple Bull had been anticipated to strike again in Hungary, with the format of the circuit showing to play to the excessive downforce energy of the RB16B automotive.
However Mercedes managed to safe its second entrance row lockout of the season as Hamilton led Bottas to a 1-2 in qualifying, beating Purple Bull to pole by four-tenths of a second.
Mercedes F1 chief Wolff stated the efficiency in Hungary proved the positive factors that had been made with the Silverstone replace, and the way it had matched as much as the group’s expectations.
“I believe the improve in sheer downforce numbers wasn’t big,” Wolff stated.
“However the influence it had on the automotive’s efficiency was good and Positive.
“The correlation got here in spot on, and I believe we realized a little bit bit extra how the automotive performs set-up sensible too.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12
Picture by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
“It’s nice to see a consolidation of that efficiency right here in Hungary.”
Mercedes enters the race on Sunday trying to convert the front-row lockout right into a consequence that might see it transfer again into the lead of each championships for the primary time for the reason that Spanish Grand Prix.
Hamilton trails Verstappen by eight factors on the high of the drivers’ championship, whereas Mercedes sits 4 factors behind Purple Bull within the constructors’ standings.
The groups have opted for various methods within the race. Hamilton and Bottas will begin on the longer-lasting medium compound tyre, whereas Verstappen and team-mate Sergio Perez will take softs for the primary stint.
“I believe that we’ve a drawback off of the road, so we must be intelligent with the beginning and carry out nicely,” Wolff stated.
“If we’re forward with two automobiles, then we’ve extra technique variance that we will play. But when it’s a two-stop race, then it doesn’t make numerous distinction whether or not you begin on the softs or the mediums.
“They’ve two drivers which can be proper there too, so it isn’t a bonus having Lewis and Valtteri within the high 4 as they’ve two as nicely.
“It’s numerous components for excellent leisure tomorrow.”